UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned of the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, describing it as a "horror show" marked by mass devastation and starvation.
"We need look no further than the horror show in Gaza - with a level of death and destruction without parallel in recent times," Guterres told the UN Security Council during a debate on multilateralism and peaceful dispute resolution on Tuesday.
"Malnourishment is soaring. Starvation is knocking on every door. And now we are seeing the last gasp of a humanitarian system built on humanitarian principles," he said, adding: "That system is being denied the conditions to function. Denied the space to deliver. Denied the safety to save lives."
He denounced Israel's military offensives, stressing that "with Israeli military operations intensifying and new displacement orders issued in Deir al Balah (in central Gaza), devastation is being layered upon devastation."
Guterres also noted that the situation in Gaza reflects a broader failure to uphold international obligations, as "conflict is raging, international law is being trampled, and hunger and displacement are at record levels" in regions from Ukraine and Sudan to Haiti and Myanmar.
The UN chief condemned recent attacks on UN facilities in Gaza, and said: "I am appalled that UN premises have been struck – among them facilities of the UN Office for Project Services and the World Health Organization, including WHO’s main warehouse."
"These premises, like all civilian sites, are inviolable and must be protected under international humanitarian law – without exception," Guterres said.
Stressing the "clear connection between international peace and multilateralism," Guterres said the UN was founded 80 years ago "to safeguard humanity from the scourge of war."
"The Charter lays out a number of important tools to forge peace," he said, hailing Pakistan for utilising its current council presidency to urge member states "to make full use of these tools in our collective pursuit of global peace."
Guterres said "failures to uphold international obligations are coming at a time of widening geopolitical divides and conflicts."
"And the cost is staggering, measured in human lives, shattered communities, and lost futures," he added.
The UN chief continued by urging the Security Council to overcome internal divisions, reform to reflect today's geopolitical realities, and enhance its inclusivity and cooperation with regional partners.
He also called on all member states to uphold international law and reaffirm their commitment to peace through diplomacy as the UN marks its 80th anniversary.
